THE QUALITY OF SILAGE FROM FESTUCA ARUNDINACEA AND MISCANTHUS GIGANTEUS AS FEEDSTOCK FOR BIOMETHANE PRODUCTION IN REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

Biomethane production is environmentally friendly and rapidly expanding in the latest years. Energy crops can be a suitable feedstock and if ensiled it can be supplied to biogas plants continuously throughout the year. The aim of the current work was to evaluate quality and biochemical methane production potential of silage prepared from Poaceae plant species: Festuca arundinacea and Miscanthus giganteus grown in experimental land of the National Botanical Garden (Institute), Chişinău. The samples were collected from the 3-year-old Miscanthus giganteus (June 16, August 17, October 2) and Festuca arundinacea (June 16). The biochemical methane production potential of Miscanthus giganteus silage prepared from first mowing in June reached 355 L/kg, but second mowing in October – 318 L/kg, single mowing regime in August – 290 L/kg; Festuca arundinacea silage – 340 L/kg, respectively.